The Value of Managed IT For Businesses
You’ve probably heard of the term managed IT before, but maybe you’re wondering, how can managed IT help my business? First, let’s dive into what exactly managed IT services are. Managed IT services can include anything from computers, software, and phones to networks and passwords. It provides the IT support you need for your business, without having to spend the time, money, and resources hiring in-house talent.
What are the benefits of having managed IT for my business?
Predictable budgeting. When businesses invest in IT systems and infrastructure, the cost can be monumental. Not to mention the uncertainty of predicting future operating expenses. When you have managed IT, your company is getting a predictable, monthly flat-rate IT service that includes hardware, software, and support.
Faster response time with round-the-clock support. Imagine the number of resources (time, money, staffing) your business would have to have in order to have someone available around the clock, keeping essential business technology functioning. This simply isn’t feasible for most small to medium-sized businesses. That’s where managed IT can help. Experts are available around the clock at your disposal to help with any issues that arise. That takes a huge weight off of businesses.
Reduced risk with proactive monitoring and cybersecurity support. Not only does managed IT take the risk off of investing in infrastructure, but it can also reduce cybersecurity risk as well. Outsourcing your IT can provide your business with protection against the latest security threats, ever-changing technology, and government regulations, all without you having to plan for these things. Managed IT takes the stress off of your business so that you can focus on other things, like scaling and growing your company.
Time and money savings. The time, energy, and money it takes to hire an entire IT department can be astronomical. There’s also the cost of hardware, software, employee time to patch, update, and monitor software. The list goes on. With managed IT, your business does not have to waste time and money hiring an entire IT department and implementing software, hardware, and licenses for the entire company. It takes these time-consuming and stressful tasks off your plate.
What services are typically included in managed IT?
Network and infrastructure. These can include setting up and managing mobile networking for everyone to connect from their phones or other wireless devices from any location. Managed cloud infrastructure is also another feature that can allow for team members to collaborate on projects, attend meetings, and more through the cloud. Managed IT services can also include managing storage backup from information uploaded by employees.
Security. Managed IT can provide your business with anti-malware software, security monitoring, software patching and maintenance, and more. Your business no longer has to worry about keeping up to date on the latest cybersecurity and malware threats. With managed IT, these issues can not only be identified but can actually be fixed before they even start to cause problems.
Live help desk IT support. Your employees are likely to have some type of issue with either their hardware or a particular system application. Many managed IT services include a live help desk. Your business no longer has to worry about having the resources to staff a help desk. Managed IT companies will provide you and your employees with all the help they need.
What types of managed IT are there?
There are a few different types of managed IT, depending on the needs of your business.
Outsourced IT. With outsourced IT, the managed IT company is the IT department. They actively monitor and maintain your network so your business is constantly running as efficiently as possible. You can have a team of highly skilled network engineers and computer technicians service your business computers at a fraction of the cost of a full-time employee.
Hybrid IT. Hybrid IT is a combination of in-house IT personnel and outsourced services. An understaffed IT department can lead to an overall lack of time for strategizing, employee burnout, and an increased backlog of work. This will ultimately negatively affect the company’s bottom line because they are not maximizing the technology budget and time. With Hybrid IT, the managed IT company assists the existing in-house IT department.
IT as a service. Technology as a Service package includes all the hardware, desktops, laptops, network, firewall, wireless network, cloud environment, and supplies needed to run your business for one monthly cost with no out-of-pocket capital expense.
No matter where your business is in its IT journey, FOGO Solutions has a managed IT package that can meet your needs. At FOGO, we make it our mission to understand your company and to bring the appropriate amount of services to meet your vision and budget. Please reach out to us with your questions so we can start working with you to take the stress of IT off your plate, allowing you to focus on growing your business.
